Chitwood’s re-election to a second one-year term as national vice commander occurred on the first day of business at the 2009 Civil Air Patrol National Board and Annual Conference, held this week at the Marriott Rivercenter in San Antonio, Tex. He defeated Col. Russell Chazell, CAP’s national chief of staff; former Ohio Wing commander and national adviser for aerospace education Col. Michael Murrell; and former Kansas Wing commander Col. George Boyd.

“I sincerely appreciate this opportunity to serve Civil Air Patrol,” said Chitwood. “I look forward to a second year as your national vice commander.”

Brig. Gen. Reggie Chitwood begins a second one-year term as Civil Air Patrol's national vice commander after re-election Thursday by the CAP National Board.

(Photo by Susan Robertson,
CAP National Headquarters)

Courter and Chitwood are members of both the National Board and Board of Governors — CAP’s governing and advisory bodies.

Before his election as national vice commander in 2008, Chitwood served as the national chief of staff, responsible for directing and overseeing the organization’s national staff and advisers.He previouslywas commander of CAP’s Southwest Region and Arkansas Wing. As wing commander, he was instrumental in getting state legislation passed to allow CAP members up to 15 days off from their employment to assist in training or actual missions. In addition, he has served as a mission pilot, mission observer, incident commander and Federal Aviation Administration aviation safety counselor.

A member since 1991, Chitwood’s background also includes service on the CAP National Finance, Constitution and By-Laws and Posse Comitatus committees.

An Arkansas native, Chitwood graduated from Westark Community College — now the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith — with an associate degree in criminal justice. He has completed U.S. Air Force Squadron Officer’s School, CAP’s Region Staff and National Staff colleges and all levels of the CAP Professional Development Program. His honors and achievements include the Gill Robb Wilson Award; Distinguished Service Award, both as wing and region commander; Grover Loening Award; Brig. Gen. Chuck Yeager Aerospace Education Achievement Award; and several Meritorious Service awards and Commander’s commendations.

Chitwood retired after 28 years as a sergeant with the Arkansas Highway Police, where he was responsible for supervising officers patrolling six counties on the Arkansas-Oklahoma border.

His civic and community service includes positions as director on the Fort Smith River Festival Board and the Fort Smith Trolley Museum Board and working as a project officer for Special Olympics of Arkansas.